I don’t share much of my wildlife photography. Honestly, it’s usually because I just snapped a photo of a weird bug in my backyard because I’m curious to know what it is and if it’s harmful.
We have wide variety of spiders, but I don’t photo them much because they terrify me, and I don’t want to scare myself scrolling my own camera feed. The exception is if I see something extremely unusual, which happens more often than you think, living so close to a creek.
Recently I found a robin’s egg that had already hatched. I picked it up to set it on a saw horse to show the kids and saw this!
This is the 1st year I have noticed these guys. When I looked it up I saw they eat stink bugs and the Spotted Lanternflies. It’s the 2nd year we’ve seen the Lanternflies in our area of Southern Pennsylvania.
I feel like they’ve moved in to follow the plentiful food source because we also have a lot of stinkbugs around here. In any case, he will probably eat good and live a well-fed life unless he becomes food for a bird.
I was surprised that wheelbugs or assassin bugs look so different in their adult form. I haven’t seen an adult one around here. Though, I was able to find out a good bit of information online about them, which relieved some concern.
They do not carry Chagas (like another relative), but they can give you a heck of a painful bite if you give them reason to do so.
I don’t usually get that close to anything with that many legs. I got much closer to this guy on accident but quickly backed off! I did take a picture but was plenty far away. The zoom on my phone is pretty amazing!
I am curious by nature and I wonder sometimes if creatures are curious about us too. I saw this butterfly on the side of the pool and it looked like it was either sunning itself or posing for a photo. In any case, it was where I clean the filter trap so I had to approach it.
As I moved through my tasks, the butterfly turned and started watching me. I may not have stopped to take a photo, but I felt like they were looking into my eyes. I had a strange moment where I felt like it was trying to connect, or get my attention.
I was just so surprised! I wanted to see if I could capture it on camera. This fella’s photo came out much better because he knows how to hold an audience, and pose for the camera.
Now this guy was in too much of a hurry I almost missed him! This is the 3rd one of these giant hornets I’ve seen personally. One of them was on my ceiling last year!
These mountain hornets around here are around 2 inches long, give or take because I’m not getting close enough to take measurements. They don’t seem to be very aggressive, especially when compared to the wood or bore bees that are either bad drivers, or are just literally trying to run into you. Maybe they are test bumping to see if I am a flower?
Those were the most recent of my weird bug photography. I also snapped a photo of my very happy clematis, I did plant this one.
The last unusual find this week was this weird flower.
Anyway, before we figured out what this was we thought it might have been the small version of a Thornapple. We had a few Thornapples pop up last year and thought they were very weird-looking and quite large.
Have you taken any pictures in your yard this year? What catches your eye? Are you like me and want to figure out what’s co-habitating on your property?
I did recently purchase The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods for Billy for Father’s Day. It hasn’t come yet, but we are looking forward to seeing if we can find food in unexpected places.
The author is Nicole Apelian, who I recognized from Billy watching all the series of Alone. Watching that and Naked and Afraid has turned my interest into more of an obsession lately.
When I was growing up, my dad, who was an Army Sergeant and survivalist, taught me to identify and observe plants and animals. Decades later, I am still finding ways to enjoy this hobby, or other media with similar topics or side topics. Outlander, anyone?
Please share if you have found an interesting bug, plant, or animal recently. Tag me on socials @CraftingGlow if you prefer.
I am always looking for fun new species to learn about. Recently, I learned that while Fishers used to be extinct in our area, they reintroduced them in the states above and below us. They have thrived, and I have seen them in several local areas with streams. They are actually kind of cute and remind me a little of ferrets, although I wouldn’t want to get close to one. They are part of the weasel family, so you probably wouldn’t want to pick a fight with one.
Thanks for reading about my weird warm weather hobby. It’s just another way to enjoy the creative spirit and get inspired to explore!
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